BOSTON TO ANCHORAGE CRUISE & RAIL ODYSSEY

You will board the luxurious ms Maasdam for a Canada and New England cruise experience that will be as enchanting and elegant as the destinations themselves are varied and thrilling. With an exciting cruise itinerary you will visit five ports including Quebec and enjoy plenty of scenic cruising as you explore the coasts of New England and Canada. Indulge on local lobster and clam chowder while learning about the rich culture of the Northeast, as deep blue waters take you from Bar Harbour, Maine, to Montreal.

A soaring three-deck-high atrium featuring a monumental glass sculpture by Luciano Vistosi of Italy is just one of the magnificent elements waiting for you onboard ms Maasdam. In the tiered grand Rotterdam Dining Room, guests overlook an antique marble fountain from Argentina and beyond the sea. Grandly proportioned, ms Maasdam is among the most spacious cruise ships at sea. Designed to provide more space for fewer guests than other ships in her class, ms Maasdam ensures you a more comfortable and intimate onboard experience.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

On this gorgeous island, you can have the quintessential New England tourist experience with a walk on the beach followed by a dinner of fresh lobster and homemade ice cream or explore the fir-lined, glacier-carved beauty of Acadia National Park and understand at once why this place was originally called Eden.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Acadia National Park & Carriage Ride Cadillac Mountain and Jordan Pond House with Lunch.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

This thriving, picturesque city is one of the great North American seaports. Watch the changing of the guard at a citadel built by the British to fend off an attack from the fledgling US. Visit a first-rate maritime museum which includes an exhibit on the Titanic or hike to the lighthouse and unbeatable ocean views in car-free Point Pleasant Park.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Peggy's Cove Lighthouse & Lobster Lunch Soldier for a Day Interactive Tour.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

Adventure awaits on Cape Breton Island, once a refuge for British loyalists. Wander the narrow lanes of the old French village of Louisbourg. Explore the hands-on exhibits at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site or beeline to hiking, biking and kayaking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, perched on a craggy plateau above the Atlantic and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): A Guided Walk in Old Sydney Town Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Park.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

Street actors re-enact the events leading to the creation of the Canadian confederacy, which was born in this charming town. You can cast your vote for seafood, shopping or a walk through Victorian streets. If you love 'Anne of Green Gables', the picturesque farm that inspired the tale is nearby.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Island Drive & Anne of Green Gables Biking the Confederation Trail.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

Thread 62 miles of spectacular Precambrian cliffs that jut dramatically from a dark mix of freshwater and sea that is home to a rich diversity of wildlife including small, white beluga whales. Quebec City marks the start of Saguenay Fjord. This 200-mile natural canal brings saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean inland and creates a beautiful environment for waterfront living for the communities of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

The only walled city north of Mexico, whose entire, marvelous Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Feast on wild game, delight in boutiques and stroll cobblestones to high tea at the monumental Chateau Frontenac. The Musée d'Art Inuit Brousseau houses masterful carvings by Native Canadians.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): St. Lawrence Grand Tour with Lunch Quebec City Walking Tour with Tea at the Chateau Frontenac.

Overnight - ms Maasdam in an Outside Cabin with Veranda (A class)

This morning, you will arrive in Montreal will you disembark the ms Maasdam. A private sedan will transfer you to your hotel. At the hotel, you will store your luggage with the bell desk and depart on a 3 hour morning city tour while you wait for your hotel check-in time.

Experience the best of Montreal on an exciting 3 hour sightseeing tour. Enjoy a complete tour of the City, taking in over 200 points of interest, including a stop at the Notre Dame Basilica, St. Joseph's Oratory (photo stop), residential and financial districts, Old Montreal (photo stop), French Quarter, outside view of Olympic Site (photo stop), McGill University and a panoramic view from an observation point on top of Mt. Royal. Discover Montreal through hundreds of places of interest with an uninterrupted commentary by a friendly, knowledgeable & bilingual guide.

Overnight - Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)

This morning, you will transfer (on own) from your hotel to the VIA Rail station. Upon arrival at the train station, go straight to the Panorama lounge which is reserved for VIA 1 passengers. You'll be able to unwind as you wait for departure. The day's newspapers, coffee and juice will be yours to enjoy, free of charge. You will depart Montreal and travel to downtown Toronto, Canada's largest and most vibrant city. Travel in total comfort and ease and forget the hassles of driving. You will travel in VIA 1 class which offers you a delicious meal and exclusive access to the VIA 1 lounge in the service-car. Upon arrival in Toronto, transfer (on own) to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to start exploring this world class destination.

Overnight - Fairmont Royal York - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)

Today, you will embark on a 2 hour guided tour of the city. Your fully commentated tour highlights include the Eaton Centre, Chinatown, CN Tower, and Old and New City Halls with the opportunity for pictures along the way. Remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight - Fairmont Royal York - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)

Today, you have a full day to enjoy this fantastic city on your own or as a part of an optional tour. This evening, transfer (on own) to the conveniently located VIA Rail station to board the world-famous Canadian. Your train adventure across Canada begins this evening (approximately 9:30pm) as VIA Rail's Canadian train rolls out of Union station. You are retracing a journey that started over 120 years ago on a ribbon of steel that still connects Canada from coast to coast. On the first leg of its epic journey across Canada, the Canadian travels through some of the least populated regions as it crosses Canada's largest province, Ontario. Enjoy private bedroom accommodation, meals in the private dining car and relax in the 'Silver & Blue Lounge' or Dome car.

Today, you will be taken on a narrated day tour to Niagara Falls. You will enjoy a boat ride on the "Maid of the Mist" to the foot of the falls for a spectacular, close up view. Lunch is also included in today's tour. Before returning to Toronto, the tour will pass through the charming 19th century town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Return to Toronto at approximately 7:30pm.

Overnight- VIA Rail in a private bedroom

Today, the journey continues through the vast forest and lake country of Ontario. From the isolated lumber community of Sioux Lookout to the Manitoba capital of Winnipeg, the Canadian rarely is interrupted by civilization. The train rolls relentlessly westward passing pristine lakes, forests and nature rich marshes. Soon the vast wheatfields of Saskatchewan present themselves in golden splendour. If you're lucky, you might just catch the electrifying action of a prairie lightning storm before you turn in for the night.

Overnight - VIA Rail in a private bedroom

While the oil and natural gas industries dominate the Alberta economy, it is the gentle rolling hills of grain and herds of contented cattle that dominate the landscape this morning. Later, the Canadian will make a short stop in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta before heading westward along the banks of the mighty Athabasca River and into the Rocky Mountains. Mid-afternoon, you will have the opportunity to briefly view the resort of Jasper before the Canadian once again rolls on toward the Pacific. Soon the majestic peaks of 12,987 ft Mount Robson herald the Canadian's entry into British Columbia. As night falls, the train follows along the banks of the mighty Thompson River towards its final destination. Tonight will be a good night to sit up late in the dome and watch the spectacular display of stars framed by the jagged peaks of the mountains.

Overnight - VIA Rail in a private bedroom

Enjoy the early morning solitude as the Canadian silently slips through the early morning mist of the Fraser Valley on the final hours of its journey to Vancouver. As the train slowly pulls into Pacific Station, you'll have time to reflect on the grand journey you have completed. You have traveled over 4500 kilometres from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans and seen Canada as only a privileged fashion. In the early morning the train will arrive in Vancouver. Upon arrival in Vancouver, you will transfer by private sedan to your hotel. At the hotel, you will store your luggage with the bell desk and depart on a 4 hour morning city tour while you wait for your hotel check-in time.

At the hotel, you will store your luggage with the bell desk and depart on a morning city tour while you wait for your hotel check-in time. You will be taken on a 4 hour city tour of Vancouver including Gastown, Chinatown, Robson Street, Stanley Park, English Bay, Queen Elizabeth Park, Granville Island and admission to the Lookout - for bird's eye view of Vancouver.

Overnight - Fairmont Hotel Vancouver - Fairmont Gold (includes continental breakfast)

You have the morning at leisure to explore Vancouver. Take a water taxi to the market on Granville Island get your designer duds on Robson Street get your culture fix in Chinatown and get splashed by a beluga whale at the Vancouver Aquarium. And when you're all done, get sand in your shoes at English Bay before you head back uptown for fusion cooking at the vibrant restaurant scene of Gastown.

Transfer by private sedan to the cruise ship terminal where you will set sail for new adventures on board the exciting ms Veendam. Grandly proportioned, the ms Veendam offers an onboard experience defined by spacious comfort. Elegant dining rooms with wide vistas of the seas, wide teak decks for strolling and spacious staterooms - many with private verandahs - all lend the ms Veendam an air of elegance and comfort. A floral theme is expressed through the art and decor onboard ms Veendam, from classic paintings of still life flowers to the stylized flowers in the small panels on the ceiling of the Piano Bar. Other art pieces of interest are the round ceiling murals by Irish artist Wout Muller and rare tosei gusoku samurai armor from late 17th-century Japan. At the heart of the Veendam, a spectacular glass sculpture climbs through the three-story atrium. For luxury on the high seas the ms Veendam is a ship you don't want to miss.

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

Today is at sea. Journey deep into one of nature's most isolated monuments accessible only by sea and air and encounter the magnificence of the Ice Age as you slowly glide through the Inside Passage. Expect the unexpected on your Alaska cruise - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. With guaranteed views of sky-splitting peaks, glaciers and vast wilderness.

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

In the heart of the Tongass National Forest, immerse yourself in Tlingit Indian culture and view the world's largest collection of totem poles kayak the colorful waterfront and stroll the boardwalk that once led to Ketchikan's red light district.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included) Saxman Native Village, Back country Jeep & Canoe Safari

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

For years Juneau's livelihood, like that of many cities in Alaska, was tied to mining. The city itself is built on tailings from the A-J mine whose shafts perforate the hillside above town. Because it is Alaska's capital, Juneau prospers through government work and tourism. This is a great place to sample salmon baked over an alder wood fire, pan for gold, and hike the massive Juneau Icefield. If you feel the need for speed, hop on a sled and let a dog team pull you across the surface of a glacier.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): Four-glacier Adventure by Helicopter, Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest, Photo Safari by Land & Sea

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

The sidewalks are all but rolled up in Skagway come winter, so you can only imagine the frightful conditions endured by the gold prospectors who passed through en route to the Yukon, with a mandatory ton of supplies to be hauled with them over the steep and treacherous Trail of '98. 21st-century summertime visits to Skagway require nothing of the sort, but you can still ride the antique White Pass & Yukon narrow-gauge railway up through silvery-purple rock faces, past Deadhorse Gulch, to see what it was like back then.

Sample Shore Excursions (not included): White Pass Summit Scenic Railway, Glaciers Country Flightseeing.

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

Cloistered in the rocky recesses of Alaska, Glacier Bay is a world still emerging from the Ice Age. Sixteen dazzling tidewater glaciers creep back and forth by millimeters, chiseling great masses of moraine onto their pristine surfaces.

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

Prince William Sound's College Fjord is one of the northernmost inlets on the Gulf of Alaska. It terminates in Harvard Glacier, more than two miles wide and 300 feet tall at the face. On the west side of the fjord, the glaciers are named after colleges for women on the east, after colleges for men'hence the name College Fjord.

Overnight - ms Veendam in an Outside Veranda Suite (A class)

Arrive in Seward in the early morning. Ice-free the year round, Seward was a natural choice as the ocean terminal and supply center during the construction of the Alaska Railroad. Upon arrival, transfer (on own) from the cruise ship terminal to the Anchorage Airport in time for your flight departure home. Transfer is approximately 3 hours in length.

Sample Transfer Options (not included): Cruise and train Transfer to Anchorage, Motor coach transfer to Anchorage.

• 7 night Canada/New England Holland America cruise aboard the ms Maasdam including onboard meals & entertainment, taxes and port charges
• 4 nights bedroom accommodation and meals on VIA Rail
• 4 nights accommodation, room tax and any mandatory service charges
• 7 night Alaska Glacier Bay Holland America cruise aboard the ms Veendam including onboard meals & entertainment, taxes and port charges
• Greater Montreal Guided Tram Tour
• VIA Rail from Montreal to Toronto in VIA 1 Class including one meal onboard (meal is dependant on time of departure)
• Toronto City Tour
• Deluxe Vancouver City Tour
• Private sedan transfers between Montreal Cruise Ship Terminal & hotel, Vancouver Train Station & hotel, and Vancouver hotel & Cruise Ship Terminal including gratuities
• Personalized documentation package

• Shore Excursions
• Alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities not listed as included (including meals & cabin attendants onboard the ms Maasdam & ms Veendam)
• Meals not listed as included
• Transfers not listed as included
• Optional activities not listed as included
• Trip Cancellation Insurance (Insurance can be purchased from your Vacation Specialist, ask for more details)